like a library book ...

Still on hiatus ...

2011-10-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

... but enjoy in the meantime.

I'm sorry August . . .

2011-08-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

... how I've neglected you. But I needed a break. I was seeking inspiration. Haven't found it yet. But here's something inspiring - local talent about to go BIG TIME. I will be able to say I knew her when... Enjoy

the jig

2011-08-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

Dan and I went to the Scottish Highland Games yesterday, near the base of Mt. Rainier. What should have been a spectacular view from the (former) King County Fairgrounds, was clouded over and gave us no reason to believe the 14,000+ ft wonder even existed. Some commented it truly felt like Scotland. The rainy mist swayed no one. Just my photo taking.

We spent a bit of time inside one of the pavilions, watching the Scottish dancing competition. The particular dance we watched was the Jig. It differed much from Irish dancing. "What's with all the fist pumping ?", we both asked each other. A handy smart phone and good coverage answered that before we left the building.

The Scottish version of the Irish Jig is another caricature dance depicting an Irish washerwoman who is angry with her erring husband. The costume worn for this dance is either a red or emerald green skirt and bodice and a full white petticoat, with a white blouse, with a white apron. Red or green jig shoes are worn and there is much stamping and facial grimacing in this dance. In the male version, the dancer wears a red or green tailcoat with a waistcoat of the opposite colour, brown knee britches of corduroy, with a paddy hat and he carries a shillelagh, which is a club made from the forked branch of a tree.

Here's some video I shot. I was trying out a new 8mm video app on my phone - sorry for the quality.

RIP, Tony

2011-07-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

prom, 1986

I received some bad news that a friend from high school had passed away yesterday morning. A fairly benign arm break after a car accident turned into something much worse. Life ripped away too soon. I hate that it takes tragedies like these to remind me to live every day to the fullest, as if it could be my last. Because it could. I need to remember that daily.

This was on Tony's facebook page, in his "about me" section:

I think the country could be in alot better shape if we all started caring about our neighbors instead of being afraid of them.

Good words to live by. Rest in peace, buddy. Thanks for all the laughs.

google doodles

2011-07-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I really like today's google doodle honoring the 189th birthday of Gregor Mendel. One of my best reports in grade school was about Gregor and his peas.

These are some of my favorites doodles from the past few months:

200th birthday of Robert Bunsen

50th Anniversary of the first man in space

Canadian Election Day

Columbian Independence Day

Les Paul's 96th Birthday

Richard Scarry's 92nd Birthday

free slurpee day !

2011-07-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 84th birthday of the 7-11 convenience store chain. To celebrate, they are offering free 7.11 oz slurpees at all locations (up to 5 million total). To find your nearest 7-11 store, click here. .........what flavor to choose ??

nothing like a summer street fair ...

2011-07-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the annual West Seattle Summer Fest. It's a quintessential part of my summer fun and it never disappoints ...

we stayed up

2011-07-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Due to our normal early-to-bed schedule, we've missed Seattle's 4th of July (live) fireworks display for the past couple of years. Watching the dvr version the next morning doesn't quite count. But we made it this year - and it was really a spectacular one. Although live photos would be much better, here are some I took from the couch:

And a few of some sparklers in the backyard:

you gotta bag it up !

2011-07-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

A new PSA for Seattle dog owners ...

worst blog month yet

2011-06-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Wow. I have really been slacking on posts this month. But I have been feeling really uninspired - unimaginative - unmotivated - uncreative. Pick any "un". I hate to blame my current mind frame on the weather, but it REALLY doesn't feel like summer right now. Not when people are still wearing fleece and stocking caps at the end of June. There's always hope for July. In the meantime, I leave you with some clips of classic summer movies I like ...

(profanity warning !)

Happy Father's Day !

2011-06-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

Miss you lots, Dad !

UW Corpse Flower

2011-06-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

(from UW Today: Sandra Hines)

The UW corpse flower bloomed overnight June 8. The greatest stench occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday and has tapered off since then.

An Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse flower in its native Sumatra and elsewhere because of its foul odor, is inching closer to blooming in the University of Washington botany greenhouse. The event is expected to occur within the next several days.

Corpse flowers get their nickname because when they bloom they emit a stench like rotting meat. The smell is the way the plant attracts insects such as carrion beetles and flies to pollinate the plant. The aroma is strongest the first evening it blooms but residual fragrance may be present the morning of the next day, something visitors have likened to the smell of latrines, gym bags or overcooked cabbage.

The corpse flower has been cultivated by UW botany greenhouse staff Doug Ewing, Paul Beeman, Jeanette Milne and Erin Forbush. UW’s first corpse flower bloom was in 1999 and it was the first in the U.S. west of the Mississippi. While coaxing the plant to bloom has become more common, much about how to trigger a bloom remains unknown. Ewing says he and his team have been fortunate to have 14 previous plants bloom, which may be more than any other university or botanic garden in the United States. Not all the UW blooms have been publicized. The last UW bloom was in 2008.

Additional facts:

Amorphophallus titanum is also known as Titan Arum, corpse flower or Devil’s Tongue.
The plant is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
While the aroma is produced only briefly, the blossom can last two to four days in reasonably good shape.
The “blossom” is more properly called a compound flower, or an inflorescence, because it consists of many flowers.
Individual flowers are grouped around the base of the spadix, the columnar structure rising out of the center of the plant. Unfolding around the spadix like an upside down umbrella is the maroon-tinged spathe.
During blooming the mitochondria that power cell growth in the spadix change function and, instead of starches being used to grow plant material, those starches create heat that triggers what the UW botanists term “exquisitely smelly oils.”
There are more than 170 species in the genus Amorphophallus, many with distinctive odor and heating properties.
As of Monday, the UW plant was about 55 inches tall, and could grow taller before it blooms.
This plant was started as a seed in 1995, flowered in 2003 and then went dormant as a 50 pound tuber. Corpse flower tubers can weigh up to 150 pounds. One unusual aspect of this bloom is that the tuber remained dormant for 2 ½ years before starting to grow early this spring, Ewing said.

I went over to the Greenhouse yesterday to get a view, but the line was really long. I was able to take a photo outside the glass (see above). I went back early this morning and was able to go inside and see it close up. Not much smell emitting now and was only noticeable when I was very near. It looked unreal - maybe even from another time. Prehistoric. I'm glad I got a chance to see it, just wish I'd had my better camera with me. It will be another few years before it blooms again.

More photos can be found on the UW Biology facebook page.

Frankie Blue Eyes

2011-06-02T19:59:00.001-07:00

This is the newest homeless kitty that showed up about a week ago. He's been living on our porch and we call him Frankie Blue Eyes. I've never seen such intense blue eyes on a cat before. He is the sweetest kitty - purrs the minute you touch him, loves to be held, gets along great with our youngest dog. I'd bring him inside, but we are at full capacity on pet hair in our house already. I'm trying to find him a nice home. But for now, he has a great setup under the grill and feels pretty comfy on the padded chairs.

the first of the season

2011-05-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

We have ten strawberry plants all together - five different varieties. I can't wait for the rest of the crop. Nothing like the taste of a home grown strawberry !

Happy 70th, Bob

2011-05-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

Bob Dylan - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Live)

Tags: Bob Dylan - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Live)

yard sale BOMB

2011-05-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. Instead of my normal participation as a buyer, I decided to be a seller this year. What better way to liquidate things ?? I'd been gathering stuff for a couple weeks and came up with what I considered to be a pretty good selection of yard sale goods.

I'm not sure if we were too far on the geographical fringe of the sale - or if our street is too busy - or if it just wasn't my day for a yard sale. But I actually lost money. I made $11 (thanks to my neighbors) from selling 10 vhs movies, a food saver machine and a tea pot - but it cost me $12 to participate as an official seller. Sigh. At least it was finally a nice sunny day to sit outside. For six hours.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

I said I was going to be better about posting more often -- but last week's posts are non-existent. Sigh.

A BIG shout-out to all the moms out there - and especially to my mom ! Hope everyone has a fabulous day.

five eight eight, two three hundred . . .

2011-05-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

an icon from my television youth ... RIP Empire Man.

from chicagotribune.com:
Elmer Lynn Hauldren created the Empire Man character and wrote the carpet company's nationally recognized jingle, which made a lasting imprint of a phone number: "5-8-8, 2-300, Empire!" Mr. Hauldren, 89, died Tuesday, April 26, of natural causes in his Evanston home, according to family.

"He has made an indelible mark on advertising history with his creativity and warmth," Steve Silvers, chief executive officer of Northlake-based Empire, said in a statement.

Empire's former owner, Seymour Cohen, hired Mr. Hauldren as the on-air talent for commercials in 1973 after dozens of actors auditioned for the role. Mr. Hauldren created the Empire Man and also wrote and sang the jingle in the commercials along with the a capella group The Fabulous 40s.

"Lynn was just a joy all the time," said Tom Felgen, a bass singer in The Fabulous 40s. "He was a neat and special guy who was really wrapped up in music and words. He had a very natural way of writing things. When we were singing together, it was total fun all the time."

In 1994, Pearl Jam belted out the jingle at a Chicago concert.

For nearly four decades, Mr. Hauldren portrayed the folksy, bespectacled Empire Man in more than 1,000 commercials. More recently and until shortly before his death, the company broadcast animated commercials with Mr. Hauldren continuing to provide voice-overs.

Mr. Hauldren's son Joseph said the idea for a soft-spoken carpet salesman emerged because Mr. Hauldren thought there was too much shouting and screaming in commercials.

"I think he appealed to people because he was so genuine," said his son. "He was a great father, a great family man, very mild-mannered and friendly. He was a lot like that character on TV."

In a 1997 interview with the Tribune, Mr. Hauldren commented on his unexpected fame.

"People are good-natured," he said, "but once in a while they'll grab at you and say, 'Here's that carpet dude!' or 'Hey! Aren't you somebody?' I always hope folks understand I'm not a celebrity. I'm just a TV pitchman, a glorified salesman."

I'm sorry, blog . . .

2011-04-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

... I know I've been rather neglectful. It's not that I don't love you, it's just that I've been really busy this month. (and partially uninspired) Maybe if I could multi-task like the lady in the bathroom stall next to me today, I could get more things done.

I promise to be better in May.

Happy Earth Day !

2011-04-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

from envirolink.org

How the First Earth Day Came About

By Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day

What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked.

Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country. Finally, in November 1962, an idea occurred to me that was, I thought, a virtual cinch to put the environment into the political "limelight" once and for all. The idea was to persuade President Kennedy to give visibility to this issue by going on a national conservation tour. I flew to Washington to discuss the proposal with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who liked the idea. So did the President. The President began his five-day, eleven-state conservation tour in September 1963. For many reasons the tour did not succeed in putting the issue onto the national political agenda. However, it was the germ of the idea that ultimately flowered into Earth Day.

I continued to speak on environmental issues to a variety of audiences in some twenty-five states. All across the country, evidence of environmental degradation was appearing everywhere, and everyone noticed except the political establishment. The environmental issue simply was not to be found on the nation's political agenda. The people were concerned, but the politicians were not.

After President Kennedy's tour, I still hoped for some idea that would thrust the environment into the political mainstream. Six years would pass before the idea that became Earth Day occurred to me while on a conservation speaking tour out West in the summer of 1969. At the time, anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me - why not organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment?

I was satisfied that if we could tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into the environmental cause, we could generate a demonstration that would force this issue onto the political agenda. It was a big gamble, but worth a try.

At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance. For the next four months, two members of my Senate staff, Linda Billings and John Heritage, managed Earth Day affairs out of my Senate office.

Five months before Earth Day, on Sunday, November 30, 1969, The New York Times carried a lengthy article by Gladwin Hill reporting on the astonishing proliferation of environmental events:

"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."

It was obvious that we were headed for a spectacular success on Earth Day. It was also obvious that grassroots activities had ballooned beyond the capacity of my U.S. Senate office staff to keep up with the telephone calls, paper work, inquiries, etc. In mid-January, three months before Earth Day, John Gardner, Founder of Common Cause, provided temporary space for a Washington, D.C. headquarters. I staffed the office with college students and selected Denis Hayes as coordinator of activities.

Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.

Chunk !

2011-04-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

Steven Spielberg's movie The Goonies is and will always be one of my all time favorites. I've forever wondered what happened to the kid that played Chunk. He seemed to disappear into Hollywood oblivion after this movie. This clip was on my yahoo mail page this afternoon and answered that question ...

tomorrow -- tomorrow -- I love ya -- tomorrow

2011-04-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Record Store Day ! Those who know me well know of my love for vinyl. Not pants or other garb --- albums ! Seattle's own Easy Street Records was listed by Time Magazine as one of the Ten Great American Record Shops. Way to go, ES !! You're one of my favorites and I plan to see you tomorrow......

M's Opening Night 2011

2011-04-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

In our long-standing tradition of attending the first Mariner's home game of the season, we attended Friday night's game against the Cleveland Indians. Most home openers are day games, so it felt a little strange referring to the game as "Opening Night". It also felt odd that Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Mariner's for the past 34 seasons, was not present. But it was a beautiful night, the sun was shining for the first time in days and the roof was open.

I must admit that it wasn't my favorite opening game. The aforementioned observations, coupled with the fact that we were getting KILLED by the 3nd inning and Dan getting hassled for wearing his Red Sox jacket, all made me want to leave early. One (drunk) guy got right in Dan's face and yelled "why don't you just go the f#*k home !" while pointing at the Red Sox logo. Really ??? I felt mad at first, but the anger turned into an overall disappointment. I hope this isn't a sign of the season ahead. I remain ever hopeful ...

trees and columns . . .

2011-04-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm back to work at the University of Washington again - with the Computer Science and Engineering Department. The view from my office window is of the Sylvan Theater and the infamous columns. Where did these columns come from ? Why are they just standing by themselves in the middle of this tree-lined garden ? Here's what I found online via the UW website:

A low, stone stairway vanishing into the trees leads to the Sylvan Theater, the site of early-day graduation ceremonies. Since then, weddings, plays, banquets, and other happy occurrences such as squirrel watching, sunbathing, and studying have taken place here.

This tree-enclosed hideaway features a grassy stage set with the four white columns that once graced the front stoop of the original university building. In 1908, when the original structure was about to be razed, Edmond S. Meany--head of the History Department and one of the university's first graduates--sought to save the old building by having it moved to the new campus. Eventually, the hand-fluted cedar columns were preserved and erected at the new site by the Class of 1911. Sentimental Edmond Meany and his colleague Dean Herbert T. Condon dubbed the Ionic pillars "Loyalty," "Industry," "Faith," and "Efficiency," the first letters spelling "LIFE."

As life would have it, "Loyalty" sustained three fractures when it blew down in February 1930. Later that year "Efficiency" toppled in high winds but was not damaged. The columns are now supported by steel angle arms set in concrete. History buffs may be disillusioned to know that the scrolls atop the 24-foot columns are fiberglass, molded in 1958 from the original hand-carved pine scrolls, by then cracked and weathered beyond repair.

c. 1930

excitement abounds !

2011-04-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to roller skate. I loved the whole experience - the shag carpeted walls, the Donna Summer tunes, the video games and the rotten concession stand food. Everyone had their birthday parties there - our class would go at the end of the year to celebrate - weekends spent there with friends. All good memories. So when I heard our local, previously defunct roller rink was coming back to life, I was ECSTATIC. They open tonight, with adult skates on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Guess what I'll be doing weekly ??

A video from their soft opening last night:

Happy Birthday Mom !

2011-04-05T05:08:00.000-07:00

Victoria, BC

it's almost that season . . .

2011-03-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

The Mariner's home opener is only two weeks away. Although I don't think they are as good as previous years, here's a sample of their new 2011 commercials:

balls . . .

2011-03-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

Instead of the ever present (and a bit strange, in my opinion) cake balls, I made brownie balls. For St. Patrick's Day. I've also seen them referred to as brownie (and cake) pops, but it's just more fun to say balls. I made Dan take them to work because I couldn't resist eating them.

What is Daylight Saving Time?

2011-03-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Daylight Saving Time (or summertime as it is called in many countries) is a way of getting more light out of the day by advancing clocks by one hour during the summer. During Daylight Saving Time, the sun appears to rise one hour later in the morning, when people are usually asleep anyway, and sets one hour later in the evening, seeming to stretch the day longer.

Why Observe DST?

Many countries observe DST, and many do not. The reason many countries implement DST is in hopes to make better use of the daylight in the evenings, as well as some believe that it could be linked to reducing the amount of road accidents and injuries. The extra hour of daylight in the evening is said to give children more social time with friends and family and can even boost the tourism industry because it increases the amount of outdoor activities.

DST is also considered as a means to save energy due to less artificial light needed during the evening hours—clocks are set one hour ahead during the spring, and one hour back to standard time in the autumn. However, many studies disagree about the energy savings of DST and while some may show a positive outcome of the energy savings, others do not.

It is difficult to predict what will happen with Daylight Saving Time in the future. The daylight saving date in many countries may change from time to time due to special events or conditions.The United States, Canada and some other countries extended DST in 2007. The new start date is the second Sunday in March (previously the first Sunday in April) through to the first Sunday in November (previously the last Sunday in October).

Did You Know?

Russia reduced their number of time zones from eleven to nine and are considering getting rid of daylight saving time in 2011.
Egypt changed their clocks four times last year, which means that they observed DST twice in 2010.
The United Kingdom may switch to Single Double Summer Time, which would move the UK to UTC+1 in the winter time and UTC+2 during the summer time.
Northern Mexican border cities share the same DST plan as the United States rather than most of Mexico.

Is DST always one hour ahead of normal time?

Today it is almost always one hour ahead, but throughout history there have been several variants on this, such as half adjustment (30 minutes) or double adjustment (two hours), and adjustments of 20 and 40 minutes have also been used. A two-hour adjustment was used in several countries during the 1940s and elsewhere at times.

A half adjustment was sometimes used in New Zealand in the first half of the 20th century. Australia's Lord Howe Island(UTC+10:30) currently follows a DST schedule that moves its clocks forward half an hour to UTC+11, which is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) when it is on DST.

(from timeanddate.com)

what my Saturday nights have been reduced to . . .

2011-03-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Paging through a cookbook last night, I saw a recipe for play dough. I loved making play dough when I was younger. All kinds of colors. Since I had nothing better to do with my Saturday evening, I made four batches.

Think I need to add purple and orange next.

It's very easy to make and takes only a few minutes. Here's the recipe:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 T oil
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water
food coloring

Mix all ingredients together. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until dough forms a ball. Remove and let cool.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

2011-03-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

from All About Dr. Seuss, catinthehat.org

Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as the beloved Dr. Seuss, was born in 1904 on Howard Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Ted's father, Theodor Robert, and grandfather were brewmasters in the city. His mother, Henrietta Seuss Geisel, often soothed her children to sleep by "chanting" rhymes remembered from her youth. Ted credited his mother with both his ability and desire to create the rhymes for which he became so well known.

At the time of his death on September 24, 1991, Ted had written and illustrated 44 children's books, including such all-time favorites as Green Eggs and Ham, Oh, the Places You'll Go, Fox in Socks, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His books had been translated into more than 15 languages. Over 200 million copies had found their way into homes and hearts around the world.

Besides the books, his works have provided the source for eleven children's television specials, a Broadway musical and a feature-length motion picture. Other major motion pictures are on the way.

His honors included two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and the Pulitzer Prize.

from vancouversun.com, 5 things you may not have known about Dr. Seuss:

5: Dr. Seuss rhymes with another epic figure in children's literature: Mother Goose. Coincidence? No. That's why he chose it.

4: When presenting the dialogue for the magicians in Bartholomew and the Oobleck, Seuss employed the use of trochees (or chorues) which presents text in an alternating pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables ("Shuffle, duffle, muzzle, muff". The techique was also used by Shakespeare with his cauldron stirring witches in Macbeth (Toil! Toil!), by Poe in his poem The Raven and often in nursery rhymes.

3: After his career as a children's author/illustrator began, Geisel worked as an editorial cartoonist in New York during World War 2, which illustrated his rabid anti-fascism views. They were also collected in a book called Dr.Seuess Goes to War, with an introduction by Art Spiegleman. Suess also wrote several WW2-era propaganda films.

2. Theodore Geisel wrote children's books under a trio of pen names: Dr. Seuss, which was reserved for the books he both wrote and illustrated; as Theo LeSeig, for books that he wrote without illustrating; and as Rosetta Stone, for one book he penned called Because a Little Bug Went Ka-choo!

1: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat was born as a response to an article which was published in Life Magazine in 1954. The piece criticized American school primers as intensely boring, unchallenging to readers and responsible for causing harm to children's literacy. The article called for more primers to up the excitement by energizing the language and including drawings like those of "imaginative geniuses among children’s illustrators, Tenniel, Howard Pyle, Theodor S. Geisel." Using the piece as a call to action, Geisel and his publisher came up with a list of 400 "exciting" words, which Seuss than narrowed down for the book, and included 13 more of his own. The final product is 1626 words in length and uses a total vocabulary of 236 words.

shake, rattle and roll

2011-02-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

"Where were you 10 years ago today ?"

I've been hearing this question non-stop on the local news since this morning. Where was I 10 years ago, around 11:00 a.m. ? I was sitting through a booooooooring staff meeting in a conference room at the UW, on a skybridge about 3 stories up. I wasn't the only one thinking "what do we have to do to get this god-awful thing to end ?' - believe me. Suddenly, the light fixtures above us started to rain down on our tables and the room began to sway. Then all those things we learned during the umpteen practice disaster drills we'd been subjected to went out the proverbial window and all hell broke loose. Some people ran, some got under tables (hey - we did learn one thing), some yelled, some froze in silence. All kidding aside, it was pretty surreal.

Dan was in the bathtub at home when the quake struck. With shampoo still in his hair and a towel around him, he scooped up the cat and ran outside. That must have been a sight.

10 years later, the city is still recovering. Some positive developments since the 2001 quake include:

Refinement of hazard maps and models to give better estimates of the shaking expected in future earthquakes.

Documentation of new faults. The Seattle and Price Lake (Olympic Peninsula) faults were known in 2001. Several others have been documented since, including Tacoma, Frigid Creek, Canyon River, South Whidbey Island (which probably has had the largest previous quakes), Utsalady and, in eastern Washington, Ellensburg and Umtanum Ridge.

Shake maps and “Did You Feel It” reporting available to the public automatically within 10 minutes of larger earthquakes.

Building code changes based on improvements in seismic engineering and adoption of the International Building Code, with standards linked to the best seismic science.

Increased public awareness and preparedness.

Discovery of episodic tremor and slip, or slow-slip. These unfelt events happen about every 15 months, last for several weeks and release as much energy as a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. They are adding to an already complex regional seismic picture.

Improved and more numerous broadband seismometers to see earthquakes clearly over the entire region.

(seattlepi.com file)

(Alan Berner/The Seattle Times)

(Tom Reese/The Seattle Times)

Happy 17th Birthday to our nephew, Aaron !

2011-02-27T14:14:00.000-08:00

2011-02-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

from foodzie.com

Hooray for Susan Guy !

2011-02-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit remiss and haven't posted anything here in a week. Sometimes there just isn't anything happening that seems to be post-worthy. But I heard a story on the news last night (and this morning) that made me smile, about a Memphis Domino's Pizza delivery driver who saved the life of a customer. A woman who ordered a pizza a day for the past three years hadn't placed an order in a few days. The woman's normal delivery driver told her boss to "clock her out if necessary" and went to check on her regular. Sure enough, the women was in need of help.

So way to go, Susan Guy. Your perseverance paid off. What do I take away from this ? We should all be a bit more aware of what is happening around us and act on our instincts. We may just save a life someday.

I do wonder, however, how someone could eat a Domino's pizza every day for three years straight. Every day. Whew.

Happy Birthday Luke !

2011-02-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

Our "second-born" hairy son turned 15 today. He has slowed down a bit in the past couple years and his hearing seems to be a bit [selectively] compromised, but who can't say the same thing in this household ! We feel super lucky to have had him all these years and he continues to amaze us with his youthful attitude.

I did not know that . . .

2011-02-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

I realized this morning that I did not know much about the history of Valentine's Day - beyond its roots in the Hallmark card industry. Here's what I learned from history.com:

The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap."

Happy Valentine's Day !

it's a brand new day for Egypt

2011-02-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

I always say that I am grateful to have witnessed all the major local and world events that have occurred in the past 42 years. I add another to that list today ...

Ed Ou for The New York Times

Moises Saman for The New York Times

Ed Ou for The New York Times

Felipe Trueba/European Pressphoto Agency

too good not to share

2011-02-06T22:48:00.000-08:00

Someone posted this video to my facebook wall - I love it.

Gōng xǐ fā cái !

2011-02-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year !

(from huffingtonpost.com) Today, February 3, 2011, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, also known to many Chinese as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar, so the exact date on the Gregorian calendar varies each year, usually between January 21 and February 19. It is widely celebrated across China and in Chinese communities around the world over a period between one day and three weeks.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, following 2010's Year of the Tiger. Each year corresponds to one of twelve animals that cycle every twelve years. The previous Year of the Rabbit was in 1999, while the next Rabbit Year occurs in 2023. One legend tells how Buddha invited all animals to a gathering and the first twelve animals to arrive were honored with a zodiac year.

The Chinese New Year Festival is a time for family and friends to pay respects to gods, spirits, and ancestors, as well as wish each other good fortune in the upcoming year. A common greeting is "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Mandarin Chinese or "Kung Hei Fat Choy" in Cantonese, which can be literally translated to "congratulations, get rich!" In China, where the festival is observed as a weeklong national holiday, hundreds of millions of Chinese head home in what has been called the world's largest annual human migration.

Symbolic traditions are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Many Chinese fully clean their homes ahead of the New Year, with the belief of sweeping away bad luck and starting anew. However, cleaning during the first few days of the New Year is avoided, since it might result in sweeping away good luck.

Red is considered a lucky color, so homes and businesses are often decorated in red. Similarly, red clothing is worn. Red envelopes filled with money, called hong bao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese, are traditionally given as gifts from married to unmarried people, particularly to children. For Chinese families who might not celebrate holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah, the Chinese New Year represents the principal time of gift-giving to children and grandchildren.

According to Chinese tradition, debts should be paid before the New Year begins. Otherwise, it is believed that if one begins the New Year in debt, such will continue for the rest of the year.

not today

2011-02-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

There are many days when I really miss living in Chicago. Today is definitely not one of them.

(E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune /February 2, 2011)

(Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune / February 2, 2011)

(William DeShazer, Chicago Tribune / February 2, 2011)

already anxious for baseball season

2011-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

I've always been a baseball fan. I attribute this mostly to my maternal grandparents who lived in a split household. Both hailed from Chicago - but my grandmother was White Sox fan and my grandfather was a Cubs fan. An old school rivalry. Which made for some really fun summers. The photo above was taken outside of their garage when I was four. The bat is almost as tall as me.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming MLB season and am hopeful for a better year for the Mariner's. Something better than 101 losses, at least. As dismal as 2010's season was, here are some highlights from mariners.com:

5. Wakamatsu out; Wedge in
With the Mariners struggling to meet expectations on the field, Wakamatsu was dismissed on Aug. 9 and replaced by interim manager Daren Brown. General manager Jack Zduriencik then led a postseason search process that resulted in the hiring of Wedge on Oct. 18. The former Indians skipper promises to bring a renewed intensity to the club, as well as a history of working well with young players in Cleveland. The Indians came within one game of the World Series in '07 when Wedge was named American League Manager of the Year.

4. Ichiro makes history
For 10 years, nobody has done it better than Ichiro when it comes to knocking out hits and getting on base. On Sept. 23 at Toronto, Ichiro recorded his 200th hit of the season, extending his Major League record for consecutive 200-hit seasons to 10 and tying Pete Rose for the most 200-hit seasons in a career. For a little perspective, the Mariners have had just three other 200-hit seasons in their history (two by Alex Rodriguez and one by Bret Boone). And since Ichiro began his streak in '01, nine Major League teams -- the White Sox, Indians, Royals, Twins, Astros, Rays, D-backs, Braves and Reds -- have yielded no 200-hit players.

3. Junior calls it a career
On June 2, exactly 23 years to the day after being selected as the first overall pick of the '87 Draft by the Mariners, the best player in franchise history called it quits. Much like the rest of the team, Griffey didn't have the season he expected, but he, too, had his moments, including a dramatic walk-off single on May 20 against the Blue Jays to cap a three-run comeback in the ninth inning at Safeco Field. He ended his career ranked fifth on MLB's all-time list in home runs (630), sixth in extra-base hits (1,192), 14th in RBIs (1,836) and 31st in runs scored (1,662).

2. Cy Young for King Felix
Great players rise above the circumstances surrounding them, and that certainly was the case with Felix Hernandez, who posted one of the best pitching performances in franchise history for a team that scored the fewest runs per game of any Major League team since 1973. Hernandez was so impressive that Baseball Writers' Association of America voters elected him as the AL Cy Young Award winner, despite his modest 13-12 win-loss record. Hernandez set a club record for ERA (2.27) and the most strikeouts by a right-hander (232), leading the AL in both categories as well as innings pitched (249 2/3), quality starts (30) and opponent's batting average (.212). And, yeah, all that at age 24.

1. The Voice falls silent
For 34 years, Dave Niehaus served as the Mariners' play-by-play announcer, calling nearly every game since the team's inception in 1977. Players, managers and ownership groups came and went, but Niehaus was the constant for Mariners fans. When Griffey scored on Edgar Martinez's double to beat the Yankees in the '95 playoffs, it was Niehaus who recorded the electric moment. When Safeco Field opened in '99, he threw out the first pitch. When baseball inducted him into the Hall of Fame in '08, Niehaus said no one would ever be more appreciative. And when he passed away of a heart attack on Nov. 10, the entire Mariners Nation mourned. The team held two public memorials at Safeco Field, both poignant reminders of his impact on the entire region. As Griffey noted, "It will never be the same, because there's nobody better."

remember that day ?

2011-01-28T15:58:00.001-08:00

NASA officials gathered at Kennedy Space Center today to mark the 25th anniversary of one of the worst disasters in the history of space travel. The space shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after take-off on January 28, 1986, killing all seven astronauts aboard.

I remember that day well. I was a junior in high school and Chemistry class had just started. One of the last students to enter the room had heard the news in the hallway and yelled "THE SHUTTLE EXPLODED !" No one actually believed her at first. There was a radio in the room and we proceeded to listen to the news through the entire period. Silence from everyone.

Had the mission succeeded, the planned orbital activities were as follows: (from nasa.gov)

On Flight Day 1, after arriving into orbit, the crew was to have two periods of scheduled high activity. First they were to check the readiness of the TDRS-B satellite prior to planned deployment. After lunch they were to deploy the satellite and its Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster and to perform a series of separation maneuvers. The first sleep period was scheduled to be eight hours long starting about 18 hours after crew wakeup the morning of launch.

On Flight Day 2, the Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (CHAMP) experiment was scheduled to begin. Also scheduled were the initial "teacher in space" (TISP) video taping and a firing of the orbital maneuvering engines (OMS) to place Challenger at the 152-mile orbital altitude from which the Spartan would be deployed.

On Flight Day 3, the crew was to begin pre-deployment preparations on the Spartan and then the satellite was to be deployed using the remote manipulator system (RMS) robot arm. Then the flight crew was to slowly separate from Spartan by 90 miles.

On Flight Day 4, the Challenger was to begin closing on Spartan while Gregory B. Jarvis continued fluid dynamics experiments started on day two and day 3. Live telecasts were also planned to be conducted by Christa McAuliffe.

On Flight Day 5, the crew was to rendezvous with Spartan and use the robot arm to capture the satellite and re-stow it in the payload bay.

On Flight Day 6, re-entry preparations were scheduled. This included flight control checks, test firing of maneuvering jets needed for re-entry, and cabin stowage. A crew news conferences was also scheduled following the lunch period.

On Flight Day 7, the day would have been spent preparing the Space Shuttle for deorbit and entry into the atmosphere. The Challenger was scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center 144 hours and 34 minutes after launch.

EEK !

2011-01-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

We have lived in our house for almost seven years now and I have never seen a mouse inside until this winter. Ick. I hate mice. But we have one. I have only seen the little bugger a couple times, but knowing it was nearby was enough to give me the heebie-geebies. So why with three cats in the house are we experiencing such a problem ?? That's it - "earn your keep" I told them.

Yesterday, as I came out of my bathroom, Brenda dropped a half-dead mouse at the door. "GET IT !!!!!!!!!" I screamed. She picked it up, shook it and dropped it about six feet away. Now it definitely appeared all-dead. I quickly disposed of it outside.

I assumed it would be one of our two used-to-be-outside-now-inside cats that would catch the critter. But no, it was our Princess. Way to go, Brenda !

Here is her re-enactment of the kill ...

mmmmm . . . . . . . chicken pot pies

2011-01-23T20:01:00.000-08:00

We've been working hard over the past year on changing our diets and have been eating much healthier foods overall. But every once in a while we crave a good stick-to-our-bones meal, especially on a grey Sunday afternoon. So I made some chicken pot pies from a recipe I found on cooks.com. I had some 6" puff pastry squares, so I made mine in individual ramekins. They turned out really delicious.

CHICKEN POT PIES WITH PUFF PASTRY CRUSTS

1 c. chopped onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped carrot
1/2 c. plus 2 tbsp. melted butter
1 c. frozen tiny English peas
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. flour
2 c. chicken broth
1 c. half & half
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 c. diced cooked chicken
2 (17 1/4 oz.) pkg. frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp. half & half

Saute onion, celery and carrot in butter for 10 minutes. Stir in peas and flour, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add broth and 1 cup half & half; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly. Stir in salt and pepper. Add chicken, stirring well. Ladle chicken mixture into oven-proof bowl(s), filling to within 3/4 inch of rim. Set aside.

Roll pastry sheets to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut pastry 1/2 inch larger than bowl(s). Combine egg yolk and 1 tablespoon half & half. Brush one side of pastry. Place brushed side down over bowl(s), folding edges under and pressing firmly to sides of bowl. Brush top with remaining egg mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until top is puffed and browned. Yields: 6 servings.

Substituting diced Yukon Gold potatoes for the celery was the only change I made.

Squirrel Appreciation Day

2011-01-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Today - January 21st - is Squirrel Appreciation Day. From holidayinsights.com:

Squirrel Appreciation Day is an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate your tree climbing, nut gathering neighborhood squirrels. It's held in mid-winter when food sources are scarce for squirrels and other wildlife. Sure, squirrels spent all fall gathering and "squirreling " away food. But, their supplies may not be enough. And, the variety of food is limited. So, give them an extra special treat today to supplement their winter diets.

Christy Hargrove from Asheville, North Carolina started Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21, 2001. Christy is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina, and is is affiliated with the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

I thought I had mistakenly landed on The Onion's webpage instead of my intended Huffington Post. But it's the truth. As I laughed, something tapped on the office window. How appropriate. . .

He (or she) paid no attention to Brenda. It opened the suet basket cage and grabbed what could fit in his/her fat fingers. Ok, claws. Whatever.

Then decided that there must be some riches in the feeder too.

Right after the next shot, he/she flipped the lid open and proceeded to fall two stories. Which didn't seem to phase him/her much. Right back at it.

Brenda fully appreciated the amusement today. So celebrated ...... and window cleaning eminent.

a day of Deception . . .

2011-01-20T20:58:00.000-08:00

We took advantage of yesterday's beautiful sunny weather with a quick trip to Deception Pass State Park , at the northern end of Whidbey Island.

Plaque reads:

Deception Pass

Named by Captain George Vancouver, 10 June, 1792. Feeling that he had been “deceived” as to the nature of the inner waterway, Port Gardner, he wrote on his chart “Deception Pass”. He honored Master Joseph Whidbey, who found the passage while commanding a small-boat crew of explorers, by naming the island “Whidbey”

Velocity of currents in Deception Pass 5 to 8 knots per hour.
Depth varies 4 to 37 fathoms

1 knot 6082.66 feet 1 fathom 6 feet

We had lunch at a picnic table along the waterfront. Not too bad for a January day. The sun was fun while it lasted.

oh well . . .

2011-01-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

It was fun while it lasted. Thanks Coach Pete and Seahawks.
And congrats to the Bears !

let's follow Italy's ways . . .

2011-01-14T15:24:00.001-08:00

At the beginning of this year, Italy became the first European country to place a ban on the use of plastic bags. Having one of the highest rates of consumption in Europe, Italian residents use more than 300 bags each, totaling more than 20 billion bags a year. The law for the gradual ban was first introduced in 2006. Cities worldwide are moving toward the environmentally conscious decision to ban plastic shopping bags. Here's a short list of what's already been done worldwide from npr.org:

In April 2007, Leaf Rapids, a town of about 550 people in Canada's Manitoba, became the first municipality in North America to adopt a law forbidding the use of plastic bags by shops. The law calls for fines of as much as 1,000 Canadian dollars, though no one has yet received one, a town official says. Local businesses offer reusable cloth bags as an alternative.

In January 2008, the New York City Council voted to require large stores and retail chains to recycle plastic bags.

In Germany, stores provide consumers with the option of a plastic bag or a canvas- or cotton-made tote for a fee. Many German consumers carry their own bags when doing the shopping and it's not uncommon to see some using wicker baskets or wheeled carts. Stores that offer plastic bags have to pay a recycling fee.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania's Zanzibar islands have banned flimsy plastic, introducing minimum thickness requirements. Many independent supermarkets in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, now charge a small fee for each plastic bag but also give away a free, reusable basket with a minimum purchase.

The Swedish government is encouraging plastic bag producers to continually develop greener bags. Two of the Nordic country's biggest grocery chains have made biodegradable paper bags and reusable cloth bags available to shoppers

You can track what's happening worldwide via the interactive map here - thanks to chicobag.com (one of my FAVORITE reusable bags) Their website is loaded with a great deal of information and resources about the reusable bag movement.

cross-eyed Heidi . . .

2011-01-11T21:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Heidi brought this story to my attention today. It makes me laugh.

BERLIN (Reuters Life) – She's middle-aged, gray-haired and stays up all night. Still, Heidi the cross-eyed opossum is Germany's biggest media sensation, and she has not even made her debut at the Leipzig Zoo.

Yet Heidi appears to be the next in a line of animal celebrities in Germany. The 2-1/2-year-old opossum has a growing Facebook following pushing 80,000 fans, sparked a popular song on YouTube and will soon star as a plush toy. However, the public will not get their first glimpse of the opossum until July, when the zoo opens its tropical wildlife exhibit.

Demand for information about Heidi has been so high the zoo has dedicated a portion of its website to answering Heidi-related questions, such as why she is cross-eyed.

Zoo officials believe that Heidi's crossed eyes could come from a poor diet when she was young, causing fat deposits to develop behind her eyes -- neither of which causes her pain or poses a health risk, the zoo said.

Poor vision is not much of a problem for Heidi, the zoo said. As a nocturnal animal, opossum's rely heavily on their sense of smell instead of their sight to get around.

who dat ?

2011-01-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

S E A H A W K S !!

I'll admit we're not the biggest football fans and we've only been to one Seahawks game since we moved here, but it's hard not to get excited about yesterday's win against the New Orleans Saints. And what a game it was. The 12th Man made it's presence known.

all photos by Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com

a photo a day . . .

2011-01-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to some impetus from my sister-in-law, I started a new blog that will feature a photo a day from camera apps on my iPhone.

hsd365.blogspot.com

Here we go, 2011 - here we go

2011-01-05T23:41:00.000-08:00

I've been perusing 2010-In-Review articles, looking for fodder for a new year's post. I thought this piece from huffingtonpost.com was interesting. It looks at 20 different things that became obsolete last decade. While I won't recount all 20 here, these were a few that made me feel pretty old - considering I remember SOME of them when they were new.

VCRs and VHS Tapes

Travel Agents

Maps

(ok - I don't remember these when they were new)

Newspaper Classifieds

(or these)

Encyclopedias

(ditto)

CDs

Fax Machines

Makes me wonder what new gadgets and trends these days will be considered obsolete by 2021. Will we look at iPads then and say "that's SO 2010 !" ? ?

Happy New Year !

2010-12-31T21:44:00.000-08:00

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011 !

a sad example of the changing times . . .

2010-12-30T22:31:00.000-08:00

The final roll of Kodachrome film was developed in Kansas today. Kodak announced it was discontinuing the iconic film in 2009, after competition from digital cameras caused a large sales decline. Kodachrome is not easy to process and requires expert handlers. Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas is the sole remaining commercial developer. The last film to be developed was shot by the owner, Dwayne Steinle. Dwayne's Photo has been inundated with requests for developing, many from photographers who had been hoarding the coveted film for years.

Kodachrome film is renowned for its exceptional rendering of color, vivid images and archival longevity. For many years, it was the preferred brand for print media.Created in 1935, it was the first commercial film to successfully shoot in color. Kodachrome was also used for motion pictures.

Happy Birthday, Dad !

2010-12-30T10:21:00.000-08:00

Today would have been my Dad's 73rd birthday.

Hope someone made angel food cake with caramel frosting for you !

a display that would make Clark Griswold proud . . .

2010-12-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

People living in our neck of the woods are familiar with the Menashe family's yearly Christmas lights display. This is their 19th year creating the illuminated winter wonderland. We drove by late Christmas night to take a few photos. This year's preparations and display were featured on the TLC's show "Invasion of the Christmas Lights".

Merry Christmas !

2010-12-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

and Happy Birthday to my bro-in-law, Paul !!

cocoa and dog cookies . . .

2010-12-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

I made cocoa mix this year to give away for holiday gifts. (thank you, Lisa and allrecipes.com) It's a combination of cocoa powder, instant coffee creamer, powdered sugar and instant milk. Speaking of which, has anyone purchased a box of powdered milk lately ?? I haven't and had no idea it would be $8.00 And the only choice was lowfat. Blech. But enough on that sidetrack..... I had all intentions of making my own marshmallows as well, but time got away from me. I wanted to dip them in chocolate and some candy cane sprinkles. I used big store-bought marshmallows instead. They worked just fine.

I make ("dip" may actually be a better term) these dog cookies every year. My guys expect them now. So do their friends.

thank god the days will start getting longer

2010-12-21T17:47:00.000-08:00

The December solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. Depending on the Gregorian calendar, the December solstice occurs annually on a day between December 20 and December 23. On this date, all places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north are now in darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south receive 24 hours of daylight.

The sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere during the December solstice. It also marks the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours for those living south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Those living or travelling south from the Antarctic Circle towards the South Pole will see the midnight sun during this time of the year.

On the contrary, for an observer in the northern hemisphere, the December solstice marks the day of the year with the least hours of daylight for those living north of the Tropic of Cancer. Those living or traveling north of the Arctic Circle towards the North Pole will not be able to see the sun during this time of the year.

How special that this year's winter solstice coincided with a lunar eclipse.

Happy Birthday, James !

2010-12-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

Our nephew turns 5 today. He's a little rock star. (that's a chicken satay in his hand)
Happy Birthday, James !!!

it's that time of year again . . .

2010-12-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

... when I feel like I'm going to implode because I don't have all the Christmas stuff done yet. It happens every year and I have yet to actually implode. It's just hard to believe that we are one week away. Where does the time go ?

My friend came over today and we got a couple different cookies made - gingerbread and cut-outs. We had fun and it's always nice to double up the efforts. There's one project to cross off the list ...

December 10th is Human Rights Day

2010-12-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 60th annual Human Rights Day, celebrating the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted between January 1947 and December 1948. It aimed to form a basis for human rights all over the world and represented a significant change of direction from events during World War II and the continuing colonialism that was rife in the world at the time. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is considered as the most translated document in modern history. It is available in more than 360 languages and new translations are still being added.

The UN General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France, on the December 10, 1948. All states and interested organizations were invited to mark December 10 as Human Rights Day at a UN meeting on December 4, 1950. It was first observed on December 10 that year and has been observed each year on the same date.

From huffingtonpost.com, here are just a few of the most encouraging human rights stories of 2010:

Treaty Outlawing Forced Disappearance: After years of work by human rights activists, a landmark treaty aimed at abolishing forced disappearances will take effect. The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted in 2006 by the United Nations General Assembly, will enter into force on December 23 following its ratification by Iraq. Citing the convention, Amnesty International has called on all countries to end disappearances.

Repeal of Argentina's Dirty War Law: Argentina took a major step toward bringing to justice those responsible for its infamous "Dirty War" of the 1970s, repealing laws that protected military officials from prosecution for crimes committed during this period. Hundreds of perpetrators including ex-General Videla and ex-General Menendez are now imprisoned.

Arrest Warrant for Sudan President: In July, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced a second arrest warrant for Sudan's president Omar Al-Bashir, charging him with three counts of genocide. Bashir has presided over the genocide in Darfur, where hundreds of thousands of civilians have been murdered, raped and driven from their homes.

British Settlement With Guantanamo Detainees: In November, the British government announced that it had reached a settlement to pay compensation to 16 former Guantanamo Bay detainees for the abuses they suffered in U.S. custody. This landmark agreement sent a strong signal that, at least in Great Britain, there will be accountability for the extra-legal measures that flourished at the notorious prison camp.

Cambodian War Crimes Conviction: More than three decades after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, the first conviction was handed down for atrocities committed in one of the 20th Century's worst genocides. Comrade Duch, who ran a prison where thousands were tortured and killed, was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Removal of Nuremberg Clause: The American Psychological Association (APA) finally removed the so-called "Nuremberg Defense" from its code of conduct. This clause, which was added in 2002 at the height of the Bush administration's influence, allowed mental health professionals to dispense with professional ethics when they conflicted with "law, regulations, and other governing legal authority."

US Supreme Court Landmark Ruling Against Human Rights Abuses: For the first time, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Samantar v. Yousuf that foreign government officials, who commit atrocities and then avail themselves of the benefits of living in the U.S., are not immune for torture, rape and other war crimes.

Baby Girl has a new home

2010-12-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

Baby Girl lived on our porch for the past several months - on a padded chair, under an umbrella. She had a pretty good cat life there, staying dry and warm while getting fed several times a day. Along with two other neighborhood cats who show up daily to the Dlubac Soup Kitchen. When Arctic Blast 2010 hit the Monday before Thanksgiving, I knew she wouldn't survive outside with temps in the upper teens. So we brought her inside and put her in the laundry room. To our surprise, she settled in very quickly and used her litter box immediately. After staying in the room for the week, we felt bad kicking her back out. She is a sweet kitty and seemed very happy to be inside. We took her to the vet - tests, shots and a check-up later - she checked out in good health. And was already fixed. Even better.

My cousin and her partner lost their cat of 16 years a few weeks ago and had been thinking about getting another to be a companion for their other cat. What perfect timing for Baby Girl. I took her over to their place on Monday and all seems to be going well. We await a new name as she settles in.

This is our cat, Brenda. Her latest obsession is our TV. She mostly watches the news, particularly the weather and traffic reports. But this commercial this morning seemed to really peek her interest.

29 years ago today . . .

2010-12-04T07:36:00.000-08:00

. . . I turned 13. Ahhhhhhhhh - the salad days. And what a great time it was to be a teenager; 1983.

Who else shares my birthday ?

Wink Martindale, game show host

Chris Hillman, musician from The Byrds

Marissa Tomei, actress

Jay-Z, rapper

Crazy Horse, Lakota Indian Chief

Lillian Russel, singer and actress

Wassily Kandinsky, Russian abstract painter

Fung Yu-lan, Chinese Philosopher

and one of my favorite actors, Jeff Bridges

All December babies born at the hospital where I was delivered came home in one of these:

it's a sad day for Cubs fans . . .

2010-12-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

William DeShazer, Chicago Tribune / December 3, 2010

Ron Santo, a star third baseman of the Chicago Cubs and their longtime broadcaster who became a revered figure for his exploits on the field and his battle against juvenile diabetes, died Thursday in a hospital in Arizona. He was 70.

Playing for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973, then for a final season with the Chicago White Sox, Santo hit 342 career home runs. He won five Gold Glove awards for fielding every season from 1964 to 1968 and was named an All-Star nine times. Although repeatedly passed over for the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was the leading vote-getter in balloting by a veterans committee in 2008.

The Cubs retired his No. 10 at Wrigley Field in September 2003, and he stood and waved from the radio booth as the crowd cheered. When the Cubs had first announced they would fly Santo’s number from the left-field foul pole, he told The Associated Press: “There’s nothing more important to me in my life than this happening to me. I’m a Cubbie. I’ll always be a Cubbie.” (NY Times)

Here's a tidbit of info about Ron that I didn't know: before he became one of the greatest Cubs of all time playing alongside Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins, Santo was a star at Seattle's own Franklin High School. He was born born Ronald Edward Santo in Seattle on Feb. 25, 1940. He left Seattle in 1960 to join the Cubs and rarely returned.

Ron Santo in 1958 when he traveled to New York

for a high school baseball all-star game. (seattlepi.com file)

Chicago Tribune photo by Phil Velasquez / September 28, 2003

December 1st is World AIDS Day

2010-12-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

On December 1st, the global community observes World AIDS Day, to raise awareness of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. According to a new report by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS, almost 63 million people have been infected with the HIV since 1981. And at the end of 2009, some 33.3 million people were living with HIV, including 2.5 million children.

Today, cities around the world will light their most distinctive landmarks (RED). From the Sydney Opera House, to Paris' City Hall & Fountains, from the London Eye, to Cape Town’s Table Mountain, from Niagara Falls, to the Seattle Space Needle - the world will turn red to highlight the day. A list of those landmarks, including our own Space Needle, participating can be found here.

MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

what a great week

2010-11-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

We had good friends visit this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. Despite the arctic blast that crippled this town Monday night and through the week, we had a really great time. We made it to Pike's Place Market, the Pacific Science Center and even IKEA. But most of all, we got to spend time with friends we don't get to see very often. And for that, we were most grateful.

I think Jake has found himself a new best buddy. He loves Jack.

Happy Thanksgiving to all !

2010-11-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Felix !

2010-11-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Mariner's Felix Hernandez captured the Cy Young Award today, receiving 21 first-place votes and 167 ballot points. It's the bright light that the team needed, after a dismal season and the recent death of Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus. Well deserved, in my opinion.

"It is a very emotional day for me," said Hernandez in a statement released by the Mariners. "I'm very proud that I was able to accomplish this not only for myself, but for my family, my country and my team. I don't have the words to describe the way I feel."

Way to go, Felix !

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings . . .

2010-11-16T09:43:00.002-08:00

We saw Sharon and her band perform in early October at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. She has a strong, amazing voice and had the crowd on their feet the whole time she was on stage. I missed her on Conan O'Brien last night, but the video was up on the Team Coco site this morning. You just have to suffer through the commercial first ...

35 years ago today . . .

2010-11-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald freighter in Lake Superior.

From shipwreckmuseum.com: The legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains the most mysterious and controversial of all shipwreck tales heard around the Great Lakes. Her story is surpassed in books, film and media only by that of the Titanic. Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot inspired popular interest in this vessel with his 1976 ballad, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, 1975, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. Whitefish Point is the site of the Whitefish Point Light Station and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) has conducted three underwater expeditions to the wreck, 1989, 1994, and 1995.

At the request of family members surviving her crew, Fitzgerald's 200 lb. bronze bell was recovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society on July 4, 1995. This expedition was conducted jointly with the National Geographic Society, Canadian Navy, Sony Corporation, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The bell is now on display in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum as a memorial to her lost crew.

Thanks to my friend Ted for bringing this anniversary to my attention. I remember playing my mom's Gordon Lightfoot album over and over because of this song. I would feel remiss if I didn't include it in this post.

newest collection addition . . .

2010-11-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

My mom sent another fantastic addition for my Polaroid camera collection.

The Electric Eye 900 was Polaroid's first completely automatic exposure controlled shutter with speeds 1/12 sec - 1/600 sec. In production from 1960 to 1963, its all metal body was covered with dark imitation leather. It came in a beautiful tan leather case with a flash and a light meter. What a great score, Mom. Thanks so much !!

Happy Halloween !

2010-10-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

Rest in peace, Uncle Mike

2010-10-30T05:37:00.000-07:00

Dan's uncle passed away early this morning at his place in Connecticut. Dan was very close to Uncle Mike and talked to him almost every day. Most of those conversations were based on whether the Yankees sucked or not (Uncle Mike was a Yankees fan, Dan is NOT). They would joke and laugh and razz each other.

Uncle Mike was a wonderful man with an extremely generous heart. We will miss him greatly.

the porch is aglow . . .

2010-10-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

I've been scooping and cutting for hours. Dan wanted no part of my jack o' lantern fest. It's one of my favorite things about Halloween season. So I present to you, MY creations.

Happy 20th Anniversary Pearl Jam

2010-10-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

It was 20 years ago today that a group of five ambitious, mis-matched artists played their first show at the Off Ramp in Seattle. And the rest is history. Thanks for 20 years of great music !

seriously ? ! ?

2010-10-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

When I see stupid Hollywood news like this, I become ill. Really ?? A birthday cake that cost over $1 million ?? Here's the nauseating story:

per accesshollywood.com: Recession? Not On Kim’s Watch!: Kim Kardashian is reportedly celebrating her 30th birthday with a diamond encrusted cake, estimated to be worth over $1 million dollars! According to Radar Online, the reality star will celebrate her big day at Glo Nightclub in Westbury, New York, on Saturday. The cake, conceived by restaurateur Nino Selimaj, is aiming to break the $1.65 million dollar cake record. No word if the nightclub will have a paramedic on hand in the event that Kim swallows a couple hundred thousand in bling.

When I think of what that money COULD have been spent on ..... I saw a documentary recently about homeless kids in Orange County, CA. They attend a public school that caters to their specific needs - regardless of where they spend their nights. Like most states, California's state education funding was cut and one of only two teachers for the whole school was laid off. The cost of her yearly salary ?? $45,000. That ridiculous cake could have paid for over 22 years of that educator's salary. The list of possibilities are truly endless ...

Don't choke on any of those diamonds, Kim.

2010-10-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

local goats on Colbert . . .

2010-10-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

People Destroying America- Goats Steal Landscaping Jobs

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

March to Keep Fear Alive

thank god they're getting out of there !

2010-10-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

I was glued to the TV last night as the first Chilean miner was pulled to the surface - and resumed watching early this morning as the 11th miner was freed. My heart sunk when the initial projected estimate for rescuing the miners was still months away. The strength, courage and endurance that each exhibited is beyond imaginable.

The New York Times has a great interactive report of the miners (including bios) already rescued and those yet awaiting their turn in the capsule. It's nice to put faces to the stories.

all photos: (AP Photo/Hugo Infante)

with all due respect . . .

2010-10-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

2010-10-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

I never win anything . . .

2010-10-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

I did school Dan in a game of Wii ping pong last night, but I'm talking about winning something with award-type benefits. I was never a winner with the too-many-to-count raffle tickets I have purchased at various past events - not real lucky with scratch off lottery things - my name's never pulled from the bowl at staff meetings for some goofy morale boosting prize. But my luck changed today. I got an email that a calendar I entered in a weekly contest had been chosen for Week 1's winner. Even better - I get 10 free copies of the calendar as my prize. Guess what the relatives are getting for Christmas this year ????

another great read . . .

2010-10-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

I picked up a book at the library last week and I have to admit, I completely judged this book by its cover. Who wouldn't be intrigued by that photo ? It reminded me of "it's the new Jan Brady" Brady Bunch episode. The author recounts her childhood, being a white girl growing up in a predominately black neighborhood of South Seattle. I didn't realize the local ties until I started reading. Her stories are funny, compelling and heart breaking all at the same time. I found myself unable to put the book down until I was finished. I highly recommend !

it's National Coffee Day

2010-09-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

I sing praises every day to Kaldi the Ethiopian goat herder, whose accidental discovery of coffee centuries ago makes our pre-dawn hours much more pleasant. Legend has it that sometime late in the first millennium, the Abyssinian goat herder noticed a discerned up-tempo to the frolic in his herd as they grazed on the berries of a certain bush. Not wanting his herd to get away from him, adventurous Kaldi sampled the ruby red berries and soon discovered that he too had added a certain hop to his step. Kaldi soon shared his experience with some monks in his community. They experimented by roasting some of the red berries and realized that they were able to be more alert during their all night prayer sessions after sipping a cup of these brewed red berries. From Ethiopia, the coffee beans made their way north to Yemen and eventually became a staple drink in Arabia. Over time, the love for coffee spread throughout Europe and was eventually exported to various colonies around the world.

A study was recently conducted by Career Builder to determine which professions had the heaviest coffee drinkers. It included more than 3,600 workers nationwide. Their findings:

1) Nurses

2) Physicians

3) Hotel workers

4) Designers/Architects

5) Financial/Insurance sales representatives

6) Food preparers

7) Engineers

8) Teachers

9) Marketing/Public Relations professionals

10) Scientists

12) Government workers

our venture this week . . .

2010-09-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

... was to the Japanese Garden within the Washington Park Arboretum. The 200+ acre parks sits just south of the University of Washington's campus. It is jointly managed by UW and the City of Seattle. The City owns the land and the University owns all of the trees and plants. As far as maintenance and management, the City takes care of the park-like functions (trails, benches, garbage) and the UW Botanic Gardens takes care of the gardens, trees and plant collections.

The Japanese Garden is at the very southern end of the park. It is a 3.5 acre formal garden designed and constructed under the supervision of world-renowned Japanese garden designer Juki Iida in 1960.

The koi were HUGE. The size of my whole arm. And beautiful in color. We bought a bag a feed with our admission to lure them within photo distance.